We have a 13-game NBA DFS on Wednesday, November 1st, on DraftKings and FanDuel. We have a TON of injury news on tonight's slate led by Kyrie Irving, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Trae Young, Jimmy Butler, and Tyrese Haliburton. Even if some or all of them sat out there is plenty of star power going with Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Anthony Davis, and Domantas Sabonis. Make sure to check out today's NBA DFS projections and NBA DFS ownership projections before finalizing your lineups today. Keep your eyes on the news leading up to and beyond roster lock.
Here's the NBA DFS Podcast for today's slate. Like the video and subscribe to our channel!
Notable NBA Injury Updates
- Kyrie Irving - QUEST – Update: DOUBT
- Paul George - QUEST – Update: Not on injury report
- Kawhi Leonard - QUEST – Update: Not on injury report
- Tyrese Haliburton - QUEST – Update: OUT
- Trae Young - QUEST – Update: IN
- Jimmy Butler - QUEST – Update: PROB
- Brandon Ingram - QUEST – Update: OUT
- Jalen Duren - QUEST (did not go through shootaround) – Update: OUT
- Bennedict Mathurin - QUEST – Update: IN
- Jonathan Kuminga - QUEST
- Daniel Gafford - QUEST (went through shootaround) – Update: OUT
- Jalen Smith - QUEST – Update: OUT
- Kevin Love - QUEST – Update: OUT
- RJ Barrett - QUEST
- Spencer Dinwiddie - DOUBT – Update: OUT
- De'Aaron Fox - OUT
- Darius Garland - OUT
- Nic Claxton - OUT
- Cameron Johnson - OUT
- Santi Aldama - OUT
- Caleb Martin - OUT
Highest NBA Game Totals
- Washington Wizards vs. Atlanta Hawks - 238 O/U
- Indiana Pacers vs. Boston Celtics - 234 O/U
- New Orleans Pelicans vs. Oklahoma City Thunder - 227.5 O/U
- Sacramento Kings vs. Golden State Warriors - 227 O/U
- Los Angeles Clippers vs. Los Angeles Lakers - 226 O/U
Favorite Starters to Use for DFS Lineups
Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
Look, this is easy. If Kyrie Irving sits you’re jamming Doncic in your line. If Irving plays, it’s a lot harder, that’s for sure. Especially at his price point.
Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
As long as he’s not facing the boogeyman (Nikola Jokic) he’s been an absolute fantasy monster. He’s put up 61+ DKP in three straight games and has played 38+ minutes in each of them. As long as he’s healthy, he’s one of the league’s best fantasy producers and the Clippers are banged up and short-handed in the front-court while playing the second leg of a back-to-back.
Trae Young & Dejounte Murray, Atlanta Hawks
Gosh dang trampoline parks! That’s what is causing this injury for Trae Young and he’s listed as questionable because of it. If he plays, I love the match-up and the price. He’s one of the best spend-ups if he plays. If he doesn’t, getting to Dejounte Murray is going to be the MOST popular approach of the day. He’s coming off 41 actual and 61 DKP and is back in a dream spot against the Wizards.
Desmond Bane, Memphis Grizzlies
Nobody’s been worse defensively through four games than the Utah Jazz, so why not take a look at the Grizzlies' best player through four games? Outside of a poor shooting performance against Denver, which happens a lot, Bane’s been nails. He’s twice topped 30 actual points and is the leading shot-taker and maker for this team. It’s a fantastic spot and the price is staying still at 8.5K.
Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz
Maybe the guy going most overlooked tonight when you factor in price, ceiling, and opportunity. Despite coming off 57 DKP, his price has dipped to a season-low 8.4K on DK. He’s now put up 57 DKP twice this year and has three double-doubles. Memphis is the 7th fastest team in terms of pace and has yet to win a game. Markkanen has shown a floor, but that came on the second leg of a back-to-back in which they had to travel in and got smoked. I love a low-owned Markkanen tonight.
Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets
It’s really hard to look at Sengun, with the offense clearly running through him, and not like him under 8K. He’s had 6+ assists in all three games, has already flashed nearly a 60 DKP ceiling, and the best part this year has been the minutes. He’s played 33 and 41 in the last two games and that’s glorious. Pace up spot..check. Good match-up.. checkmate.
Ben Simmons, Brooklyn Nets
When you look at how Brooklyn’s team is constructed, Simmons really profiles as the only guy who’s going to bring the ball up and run the offense when you factor in they’re not giving Dennis Smith Jr. much run. He played 35 minutes last time out, season-high, and was once again just two assists shy of a triple-double. He has great eligibility, is playing big minutes, and has nightly triple-double appeal.
Honorable mention(s): Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings, Jalen Green, Houston Rockets, Keegan Murray, Sacramento Kings, Terry Rozier, Charlotte Hornets
Favorite Value Plays to Use for DFS Lineups
Jabari Smith Jr., Houston Rockets
The high’s and low’s of playing Jabari Smith Jr. has been on full display this year. He started the year off horribly, fouling out in 26 minutes, but he’s played 37 and 34 minutes in each of the last two games and he’s taken 12+ shots and has 26+ DKP in each of the last two games. We have a game in which Houston is getting a MASSIVE pace up spot to boot, so I’m getting to Smith in tournaments.
John Collins, Utah Jazz
Collins has been quite productive since joining the Jazz starting the campaign off with three double-doubles and fell just one rebound shy in game number four. Collins has played solid minutes, has a really nice price point, and has shown a nice floor. Also LOVE the 16 shot attempts last time out. Memphis is seventh in pace, giving Collins and the Jazz a few extra possessions.
Bones Hyland & Norman Powell, Los Angeles Clippers
Head coach Tyrann Lou said he’s unsure what he’s going to do with Paul George and Kawhi Leonard on the second leg of a back-to-back. Both PG13 and Leonard played 33 minutes and we know how oft-injured they’ve been. With James Harden and P.J. Tucker out again, as well as half of their rotation now in Philly, Hyland started and played 32 minutes on Tuesday and Powell came off the bench and played 29 minutes, closing even in a blowout. Both are in play with George and Leonard and are close to core plays if they sit.
Lonnie Walker IV, Brooklyn Nets
The expectation is that Lonnie Walker IV starts if/when Spencer Dinwiddie is ruled out. He started the second half for Dinwiddie last time out and ended up playing 29 minutes. He’s played 20+ minutes in back-to-back games with Johnson and Claxton out, but now there are THREE key Brooklyn rotation pieces out. Love the position eligibility here too.
Onyeka Okongwu, Atlanta Hawks
We’ve seen an uptick in minutes out of Onyeka Okongwu and even played more minutes than Clint Capela last time out. He’s put up 23+ DKP in back-to-back games and is under 4K. They have a massive pace-up spot and Washington is one of the worst defensive-rated teams in basketball.
Honorable Mention(s): Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks, David Roddy, Memphis Grizzlies, Ziaire Williams, Memphis Grizzlies
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Player Pool
| $ Tier | PG | SG | SF | PF | C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High |  Luka Dončić  $12,900 |  Anthony Davis $11,600 |  Domantas Sabonis $10,100 | ||
| Medium |  Trae Young $8,800 |  Desmond Bane $8,700 |  Lauri Markkanen $8,600 | Jaren Jackson $8,900 |  Alperen Şengün $8,200 |
 Ben Simmons $7,100 |  Dejounte Murray $8,300 |  Paul George $8,400 |  Kyle Kuzma $7,400 | Jonas Valančiūnas $6,100 | |
 Marcus Smart $7,100 | Jalen Green $6,600 | John Collins $6,200 | |||
| CJ McCollum $7,800 | Zion Williamson $7,800 | ||||
| Low | Malcolm Brogdon $5,900 | Malik Monk $5,000 |  Ziaire Williams $4,500 | Jabari Smith $5,800 | Onyeka Okongwu $4,900 |
 Alec Burks $4,600 | Christian Wood $4,800 |  Isaiah Stewart $5,700 | |||
| Lonnie Walker $4,600 | Marvin Bagley $4,700 |
Player News
Kristaps Porzingis (illness) said after Wednesday’s Game 2 loss to the Knicks that his current stamina issues may be related to the problem that sidelined him for eight games late in the regular season.
After an illness limited him to 13 first-half minutes in Boston’s series-opening defeat on Monday, Porzingis came off the bench in Game 2. Unfortunately, he could only give the Celtics 14 minutes. Following the game, Porzingis said his current problem may be related to the upper respiratory ailment that sidelined him for eight games late in the regular season. “Probably, probably,” Porzingis said. “I’ve had like ups and downs throughout until this point. Just now, had a big crash. Now, my energy, my everything, hasn’t been good, but who cares? Have to move forward and it will get better from this point.” While Boston’s shot selection was the focus following its two home defeats, Porzingis’ limited availability has also been a factor. He’ll hope to return to full health in time for Game 3 on Saturday afternoon.
Nikola Jokic finished with 17 points (6-of-16 FGs), eight rebounds, six assists, one steal, one block, two three-pointers and six turnovers in Game 2 against the Thunder on Wednesday.
This was Jokic’s worst performance of the postseason, and it came to an end in the third quarter. He fouled out with 1:17 left in the third, which brought his night to a close after he played 32 minutes. OKC was up 41 points when Jokic fouled out, so his night may have been close to over anyway. Jokic dominated Game 1, and the Thunder adjusted. Denver will need other players to step up if they want to have a chance of winning this series, but Jokic will also need to be better than he was in this game.
Michael Porter Jr. struggled on Wednesday and finished with just eight points (2-of-10 FGs), five rebounds, one steal and two three-pointers in Game 2 against the Thunder.
MPJ was slightly better in the second half, as all eight of his points came in the third quarter. However, the game was already out of hand at that point after a terrible first half for both Porter Jr. and the Nuggets. MPJ shot 1-of-8 in Game 1, and they’ll need him to be much better moving forward. The series will now shift back to Denver, and MPJ will look to get back on track during the two home games before the series heads back to Oklahoma City.
Russell Westbrook provided a boost off the bench with 19 points (5-of-11 FGs, 8-of-10 FTs), one rebound, five assists and one three-pointer in a 149-106 loss to the Thunder in Game 2 on Wednesday.
Despite an ugly first half for Denver, Westbrook was productive and entered the break with 15 points. He didn’t add much in the second half, though he sat the entire fourth quarter, still it was enough to lead the Nuggets in scoring. Russ has been awesome over Denver’s last five games, and his continued success will be key to the Nuggets winning this series. Though this game was ugly, they still have homecourt advantage in this series. They’ll look to keep it in Game 3 on Friday.
Chet Holmgren recorded a double-double on Wednesday with 15 points (3-of-8 FGs, 7-of-7 FTs), 11 rebounds, two assists, two steals, two blocks and two three-pointers in Game 2 against the Nuggets.
After struggling in Game 1, Holmgren bounced back and recorded the fourth postseason triple-double of his career, with three of those coming this season. Aside from Game 3 against Memphis, Holmgren has swatted at least two shots in every game during these playoffs, which was a trend that continued in this game despite him only playing 26 minutes. Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein (14/8/5/1/1) will look to continue to limit Nikola Jokic (17 points) in Game 3 on Friday.
Jalen Williams bounced back on Wednesday with 17 points (6-of-11 FGs), four rebounds, seven assists and two blocks in Game 2 against the Nuggets.
Williams was criticized for his poor performance in the Thunder’s Game 1 loss, but he responded well in OKC’s blowout victory. He was on pace for a bigger night, but he only played 26 minutes and sat the entire fourth quarter due to the lopsided score. He shot the ball much better after shooting 5-of-20 in Game 1, and he’ll need that success to carry over into Game 3 in Denver on Friday.